diff --git a/src/BME280I2C.cpp b/src/BME280I2C.cpp
index 242127b..1720145 100644
--- a/src/BME280I2C.cpp
+++ b/src/BME280I2C.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,24 @@ BME280I2C::BME280I2C
 ):BME280(settings),
   m_settings(settings)
 {
+  Wire.begin();
+}
+
+
+/****************************************************************/
+bool BME280I2C::Initialize()
+{
+  bool success(false);
+  Wire.beginTransmission(m_settings.bme280Addr);
+  if(0 == Wire.endTransmission())
+    success = true;
+
+  if(success)
+  {
+    success = BME280::Initialize();
+  }
+
+  return success;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/BME280I2C.h b/src/BME280I2C.h
index 32cd3ac..196daf1 100644
--- a/src/BME280I2C.h
+++ b/src/BME280I2C.h
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ class BME280I2C: public BME280
    BME280I2C(
       const Settings& settings = Settings());
 
+/*****************************************************************/
+/* CONSTRUCTOR INIT FUNCTIONS                                    */
+/*****************************************************************/
+
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   /// Write configuration to BME280, return true if successful.
+   /// Must be called from any child classes.
+   virtual bool Initialize();
+
 
 /*****************************************************************/
 /* ACCESSOR FUNCTIONS                                            */
diff --git a/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.cpp b/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.cpp
index 451cc59..3612f97 100644
--- a/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.cpp
+++ b/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,24 @@ BME280I2C_BRZO::BME280I2C_BRZO
 {
 }
 
+
+/****************************************************************/
+bool BME280I2C_BRZO::Initialize()
+{
+  bool success(false);
+  brzo_i2c_start_transaction(m_settings.bme280Addr, m_settings.i2cClockRate);
+  if(0 == brzo_i2c_end_transaction())
+    success = true;
+
+  if(success)
+  {
+    success = BME280::Initialize();
+  }
+
+  return success;
+}
+
+
 /****************************************************************/
 void BME280I2C_BRZO::setSettings
 (
diff --git a/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.h b/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.h
index ca16532..fce535a 100644
--- a/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.h
+++ b/src/BME280I2C_BRZO.h
@@ -65,6 +65,15 @@ class BME280I2C_BRZO : public BME280I2C
    BME280I2C_BRZO(
       const Settings& settings = Settings());
 
+/*****************************************************************/
+/* CONSTRUCTOR INIT FUNCTIONS                                    */
+/*****************************************************************/
+
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   /// Write configuration to BME280, return true if successful.
+   /// Must be called from any child classes.
+   virtual bool Initialize();
+
 
 /*****************************************************************/
 /* ACCESSOR FUNCTIONS                                            */